The Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) has observed that Mike Appel and Gatto Limited’s “fraudulent behavior and unscrupulous business practice” have revealed a deep-seated problem in Malawi where many suppliers or traders of goods and services continuously cheat their consumers.

The High Court of Malawi has in the cases of Council of University of Malawi against Mike Appel and Gatto Limited and Airtel Malawi’s Country Director Saulos Chilima against the same company for providing goods/services that were not fit for purpose.

CAMA Executive Director John Kapito, who lauded the judiciary for upholding consumer rights, said consumers have the protection of the law under the Sale of Goods Act and the Consumer Protection Act.

He therefore argued that consumers should not be intimidated by anybody where they are seeking to enforce their consumer rights.

Kapito: Hail Judiciary

“We, at Consumers Association of Malawi, have along held the view that there many unscrupulous suppliers and traders in this country who engage in fraudulent and unethical business practices by providing goods or services that are not fir for purpose.

“There a number of reasons for this; pure fraud; lack of knowledge and awareness by consumers of their rights; weak enforcement mechanisms and systems, to mention a few,” said Kapito.

The outspoken CAMA boss further advised that if a consumer is of the view that the received goods or services are not fit, the consumer may seek compensation against the supplier or trader under the Sale of Good Act or the Consumer Protection Act.

“A consumer may seek monetary compensation, or replacement of the faulty goods or shoddy services. The Sale of Goods Act and the Consumer Protection Act are the hall mark of consumer rights in Malawi,” said Kapito.

“We therefore applaud the Malawi Judiciary for stepping in to uphold consumer rights where unscrupulous traders or suppliers such as Mike Appel and Gatto Limited have violated those rights.

“We would like to inform consumers in the country that they have a right to provision of goods that are fit for purpose, and a right to receive excellent services by a supplier or trader. If a consumer thinks that their consumer rights have been violated, they have every reason to seek compensation against a supplier or trader,” advised further Kapito.